Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
When it comes to nutrition, as with many other issues, men and women have the same dietary needs.
They both need to get the recommended servings of major food groups; they both require calories for energy, and need to follow a proper diet.
But it is different for working women. Women who hold full-time jobs and have a family are always under pressure of staying ahead of the game in a competitive work environment and trying to balance home and office and do well at both. This can be very stressful and overwhelming.
One should emphasise the importance of health awareness and regular physical activity for women of all ages. Women have special needs and are affected from higher incidence of many conditions such as osteoporosis, anxiety, depression, and other gender-related problems.
Here are some tips on how working women with families can keep their health in top shape:
l At all stages in life women need to pay attention to various nutrients. Eating well is important for all women. A nutritional supplement can also help maintain a daily level of intake.
l Eat a very low-fat diet – no more than two grammes of fat per 100 calories – and avoid saturated fats.
l Omega three fatty acids may have a role in preventing heart disease. Fish is a good source of omega three fatty acids.
Exercise regularly, with steady aerobic exercise: walking, jogging, cycling.
l Park your car a few metres away to walk home or to the office or hit the stairs instead of the elevator. Routine exercise helps ward off hypertension and heart disease, and can alleviate stress and anxiety.
l Feeling depressed and have become short tempered? Most likely you are stressed out. Decide to take a break, long or short, from work. Take time to relax, stretch, and walk periodically during the day. Overcome stress by simplifying your schedule. Plan your week with priorities on what needs immediate attention and what can wait.
l There is no need to rush. Meditate or perform other stress reduction exercises every day. Stress plays a significant role in the development of heart disease.
l Keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at healthy levels and monitor them regularly.
l Hydrate your body with natural diuretics such as water and herbal teas to help flush toxins out of your system. Limit the intake of beverages like soda and some fruit juices which can contain high levels of salt and sugar.
l Have eight hours of sleep a night to help your body re-energise and de-stress for the next day. Setting a regular bedtime can help cue the mind and body for sleep.
l Working women have to be very strong to hold on to their reins and drive the family on the roughest grounds. What strength working women have is a wonder of wonders! However, just know when you have to draw the line and take a break, by taking a vacation and travelling or simply relaxing with the company of family or friends.
It can make a difference!
